It looked like the world of fantasy had a firm grip on York’s most famous street.
But the latest TV-themed shop on Shambles has lasted barely three months.
The Game Of Thrones inspired shop opened in the former Gift Gallery has started a closing down sale.
Fronted by a sign declaring, ‘You know nothing, Jon Snow!’ the store sells all sorts of merchandise based on the blockbuster TV series.
It also sells Marvel, Star Wars and – inevitably – Harry Potter products too. But now there’s 25% off everything as it prepares to close its doors.
Rent hike
The other two, both Harry Potter-themed, opened after the runaway success of home-grown gift emporium The Shop That Must Not Be Named.
It has been such a success that it doubled in size last year.
Another wizard-inspired shop, The Potions Cauldron, has proved a hit, YorkMix understands.
But retailing in Shambles has been hit by a hike in rents by City of York Council.
The council owns about 70 per cent of the units on the hugely popular street and retailers say the local authority has increased rents by about 10 per cent.
HEADLINE “Is the Harry Potter effect on the wane? Shambles shop is closing down”
This headline is completely misleading. When you read the article it’s very clear that the other Harry Potter shops are doing well. The reason for the closure of this shop (which is essentially a ‘Game of Thrones’ themed shop with other themes, including Harry Potter, within) is clearly the sharp rise in rates by the council. Why then caption the story with a negative slant on Harry Potter? Journalism at its worst!
What nonsense Carol. If one of the shops which clearly opened due to the ‘Harry Potter effect’ closes down, that’s a perfectly legitimate way to frame the story. Chris, editor